WEBVTT
SOLEDAD: WELCOME BACK.
AMERICA'S COMEDIANS HAVE PLAYED
A SERIOUS ROLE IN THIS ELECTION.
ONE COMEDIAN, NEW JERSEY NATIVE
DEAN OBEIDALLAH, WORKS TO GET A
LAUGH WHILE MAKING A POINT ON
HIS RADIO SHOW, IN COMEDY CLUBS,
AND THROUGH HIS WRITING.
AS AN AMERICAN-MUSLIM, THE
ELECTION THIS YEAR HAS GIVEN
RISE TO A MORE URGENT MESSAG
DEAN: THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG.
I WANT TO BE YOUR MUSLIM FRIEND.
THAT'S HOW I START MY RADIO SHOW
EVERY DAY.
>> HE'S A MUSLIM, HE'S A WRITER,
HE'S A COMEDIAN.
DEAN: HELLO, FRIENDS.
I'M HERE TO BE YOUR MUSLIN
FRIEND.
I GET TWEETS AND EMAILS, 'I'VE
NEVER MET A MUSLIM BEFORE."
YOU'RE MY MUSLIM FRIEND, THE
FIRST PERSON I KNOW AS A MUSLIM.
THAT'S SO MUCH THE ISSUE.
TODAY IS A VERY SPECIAL EDITION.
I'LL READ THE FIRST EMAIL FROM A
MAN WHO IDENTIFIES HIMSELF AS
SHANE.
"WHY NOT PACK UP AND GO BACK TO
PALESTINE?
YOU'RE NOT FUNNY AND YOU DON'T
BELONG HERE."
I GOT THAT EMAIL BY SHANE TODAY,
AND IT REALLY MEANT SOMETHING TO
ME.
SHANE, I WAS BORN HERE.
AFTER TWO OR THREE EMAILS, THE
FIRST FEW WERE CURSING AT ME AND
'GO BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY' -- BU
THE THIRD ONE WAS I CANNOT
BELIEVE HE RESPONDED TO ME.
HE WROTE, "I'M JUST SURPRISED
YOU ACTUALLY ANSWER EMAILS.
I'M JUST ANOTHER MAD AMERICAN
WHO'S FRUSTRATED."
THEY DON'T REALLY WANT ME TO GO
BACK TO MY COUNTRY.
THEY WANT THEIR LIFE TO BE
BETTER.
MY COUNTRY IS NEW JERSEY.
AM I GOING BACK TO JERSEY?
FINE, IT'S AN 8-MINUTE DRIVE
IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE THEIR
LIVES.
WHAT I THINK WILL CHANGE THEIR
LIVES IS SOMEONE LISTENING TO
THEM
>> WELCOME TO THE 13TH ANNUAL
COMEDY FESTIVAL.
DEAN: WHAT
DIFFICULT FOR ME
PERSONALLY, THESE ATTACKS BY
TRUMP AND BEFORE THAT, CARSON
AND CRUZ, ARE PERSONAL.
IT WAS MORE CHALLENGING TO WRITE
THE JOKES BECAUSE I'M ANGRY AND
I'M UPSET.
I THINK THAT WE ARE UNDER SIEGE.
I DON'T THINK THE COMMUNITY HAS
EVER FELT MORE UNDER THE GUN,
MORE DEMONIZED.
THE HUMAN CONSEQUENCE IS HATE
CRIMES AGAINST US, MAKING IT
MORE DIFFICULT FOR YOUNG MUSLIM
AMERICANS TO BE AMERICAN
SO WHEN SOMEONE CALLS YOU NAMES
ON FACEBOOK OR TWITTER, AND
YOU'RE REALLY UPSET --
YOU CAN'T REALLY DO MUCH ABOUT
THAT.
>> WELL, YOU COULD --
DEAN: I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE
CIVIL CONVERSATIONS WHERE WE
BOTH ACCEPT THE FACT THAT WE ARE
FELLOW AMERICANS.
WE ARE NOT ENEMIES.
WE DISAGREE ON ISSUES.
I THINK THAT IS KIND OF LOST IN
AMERICA NOW.
HOW ARE YOU, MY FRIEND?
IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT HAS TO
BE HAD.
NOTHING GOES AWAY.
NO SOCIAL ILL HAS BEEN RESOLVED

Who Wants to Be Your Muslim Friend?

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Updated: 5:24 PM EDT Oct 28, 2016

Comedy is playing a big role this election season, with comedians capitalizing on what many describe as the most unusual campaign in recent history. And it’s not limited to late night TV hosts.